Boat with running gear

ABSTRACT

A pair of corresponding running gear assemblies detachably mounted in a boat and having ground-engaging wheels enabling the boat to be trailed by a draft vehicle without the use of a separate trailer. The running gear assemblies are readily retractable to positions above the water line when the boat is afloat or the running gear assemblies may be readily detached and completely removed from the boat.

United States Patent Noble L. Carroll, Jr.

Box Al, Barryton, Mich. 49305 25,165

Apr. 2, 1970 Aug. 17, 1971 lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented BOAT WITHRUNNING GEAR 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S.Cl 9/1'1, 280/432, 280/414 R int. Cl 1363c 13/00 Field oISearch9/1T. 1 R; 114/.5 R; 115/] A; 280/4321, 43.17, 43.18.43. 43.l9,43.22,43.23,4l4 R, 414 A, 414 B, 43.17 B; 244/102 R [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,720,662 10/1955 OBannon 9/1 T 3,025,537 3/1962Rasmussen 9/1 T 3,131,950 5/1964 Weaver,.1r.etal. 280/432 X 3,361.3951/1968 Postelson-Apostolescu. 244/ 1 02 Primary Examiner-Milton BuchlerAssistant Examiner-F. K. Yee Attorney-John N. Randolph ABSTRACT: A pairof corresponding running gear assemblies detachably mounted in a boatand having ground-engaging wheels enabling the boat to be trailed by adraft vehicle without the use of a separate trailer. The running gearassemblies are readily retractable to positions above the water linewhen the boat is afloat or the running gear assemblies may be readilydetached and completely removed from the boat.

INVENTOR N OBLE L. CARROLL,JR.

ATTORNI SHEET 1 OF 2 PATENTEU Aum 719?:

PATENTEU AUG] 7 |97| SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR' NOBLE L. CARROLL,JR.

ATTORNEY BOAT WITH RUNNING GEAR SUMMARY It is a primary object of thepresent invention to provide running gear assemblies of simple andinexpensive construction which may be readily applied to a boat toprovide a selftrailing boat requiring no trailer for conveying the boatover land, and which will enable the boat to be launched into or removedfrom water only a few inches deep and at any location where the towingvehicle may be backed to within I feet of the water's edge, so that noboat ramp is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-trailing boat whichmay be launched or loaded in a minimum of time and with very littlemanual effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel running gearassemblies which may be easily detached from the boat for storage ormaintenance, or to reduce the weight of the boat when afloat, and toenable wells, from which the running gear assemblies are removed, to beutilized as holders for foraminous containers employed as live boxes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide running gearassemblies utilizing conventional automotive parts which are readilyobtainable and which are waterproof and dustproof for longer life with aminimum of maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various otherobjects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become morefully apparent from the following description of the drawings,illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a boat equipped with therunning gear assemblies shown in extended positions for supporting theboat;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereoflooking from left to right ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view,taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary horizontal sectional views, takensubstantially along planes as indicated by the lines 5-5 and 6-6,respectively, of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 7 is an exploded side elevational view, partly in section, of partsof one of the running gear assemblies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more specifically tothe drawings, a boat, designated generally 10, includes a hull 11 and asuperstructure 12 which is mounted on and secured to said hull. The hullII is composed of two transversely spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons 13 connected to one another by transverse members 14 whichextend therebetween.

A rigid sleeve 15 extends vertically through each pontoon l3 and has anopen lower end opening through the bottom of the pontoon and an openupper end opening upwardly into the superstructure 12, as best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4. The sleeves or wells 15 are disposed in transversealignment with one another and nearer the rear end than the forward endof the boat 10, and are elongated in directions longitudinally of theboat, as seen in FIG. 6.

A rigid and rectangular frame I6 fits slidably in each sleeve 15 andincludes a rear wall 17, end walls 18 and flanges 19 which extend towardone another from said end walls, to combine with the end walls and rearwall to provide four angular vertical corners 20 which fit into the fourcomers of the sleeve 15. The frame 16 also includes a top wall 21, asseen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Each frame 16 constitutes a part of a running gear assembly, designated22. Since the two running gear assemblies 22, as seen in FIG. 2, areidentical in construction, a description of one will suffice for both.Each running gear, assembly 22 includes a spacer 23 which is welded tothe inner side of the backwall I7 and to which is welded a spindle andbearing unit 24 on which is rotatably mounted a conventional motorvehicle-type wheel 25 having a pneumatic tire 26.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the inner and outer longitudinally extendingsidewalls 27 of each sleeve 15 are each provided adjacent their upperedges with two openings 28, which openings of the two walls 27 align toreceive pins 29 which extend therethrough, and normally through bores 30of a rigid cap or support member 31 which is thus secured by the pins 29in the open upper end of the sleeve 15. The pins 29 are of aconventional construction including a latch means 32 for retaining thepins in the openings 28, but which is readily releasable for removal ofthe pins, for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

A heavy coiled spring 33 is disposed between the cap 31 and the top wall21 of each sleeve 15 and is secured to said cap and top wall by theclamps 34. A shock absorber 35 is disposed within the spring 33 and hasa lower end suitably secured to the top wall 21 and an upper endsuitably secured to the cap 31.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, rectangular tubes 35 are secured in uprightpositions to the outer sides of the sleeve walls 27 above the pontoon 13and between the openings 28. A rigid arch-shaped tubular frame 36 hasdepending legs 37 which telescope into the tubes 35 and which aredetachably secured therein by pins 38 which extend through the tubes 35'and legs 37, as seen in FIG. 5, and which are provided with latch means39, corresponding to the latch means 32 of the pins 29.

A conventional screw-type jack 40 includes an internally threaded barrel41 having a lower end mounted on and secured by fastenings 42 on the topportion 43 of the frame 36. A rod 44 threadedly engages in the barrel 41and has a lower end connected by a swivel connection 45 to the upperside of the cap 31. A shaft 46 is fixed to and extends from the upperend of the rod 44 through the upper end of the barrel 41 and is providedwith a crank 47, which is disposed above the barrel, by which the rod 44can be manually revolved.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, a rigid tube 48 of rectangular cross sectionis disposed midway between and parallel to the pontoons I3 and issecured in the cross braces I4. An elongated tubular tongue 49telescopically engages in the tube 48 and has a normally downwardlyoffset forward end portion 50, which is disposed forwardly of the tube48, and which is provided with a conventional draft hitch coupling half51 for attachment to a conventional draft hitch coupling, not shown,secured to a motor vehicle. A pin 52, of the same type as the pins 38,extends through the tube 48, near its forward end and through either anopening 53 disposed near the forward end of the tongue 49 for securingthe tongue in a retracted position, as seen in full lines of FIG. 1, orthrough an opening 54, disposed near the rear end of the tongue 49, forsecuring the tongue in an extended position with its coupling half 51located approximately l0 feet in front of the boat 10. The tongue 49 mayalso be completely removed from the tube 48 rotated about its axis andreplaced in the tube 48 and latched in a retracted position with theportion 50 thereof offset upwardly, rather than downwardly, from theaxis of the tongue, so that the portion 50 will be well above the waterline when the boat 10 is afloat.

The running gear assemblies 22 are shown in FIGS. I, 2, 3 and 5 and infull lines in FIG. 4 in extended operative positions, with the capmembers 31 secured in the upper ends of the sleeve 15, and with theframes 16 disposed adjacent the lower ends of the sleeves 15, so thatportions of the wheels 26 are disposed below the level of the bottoms ofthe pontoons 13 for cooperating with the draft vehicle, not shown, towhich the tongue 4'9 is connected, for supporting the boat It) fortravel on land. The springs 33 and shock absorbers 35 permit the wheels25 and frames 16 to yield upwardly within the sleeves 15 in passing overuneven road surfaces. However, the springs and shock absorbers are ofsufficient strength to prevent sufficient upward yielding movement ofthe frames I6 which would permit contact of the pontoons with a surfaceover which the boat is being towed.

Due to the length of the tongue 49, in its extended position, and theshallow draft of the boat 10, a loading ramp is not required to launchthe boat or remove it from the water, and the towing vehicle may bebacked up to or near the waters edge for launching the boat 10 in wateras shallow as 8 inches in depth. The pins 29 can then be removed fromthe openings 28 and bores 30 after which the cranks 47 are revolved forretracting the threaded rods 44 upwardly, to lift the caps 31, frames 16and wheels 25 from their full line operative positions to a retracteddotted line position, as seen in FIG. 4. The rear walls 17 have openings55 to align with the openings 28 for receiving the pins 29 for securingthe frames 16 in the upper ends of the sleeves l and with the wheels 25disposed above the water level when the boat 10 is afloat. As the boat10 is intended to operate at low speeds, the open lower ends of thesleeves will not materially affect the operation of the boat in thewater.

If desired, instead of replacing the pins 29 through the openings 55,the pins 38 may be removed and the entire wheel assemblies 22, includingthe frames 36, jacks 40, caps 31, springs 33, shock absorbers 35, frames16 and wheels 25, may be completely removed from the sleeves 15. Thesleeves 15 may then be utilized, as described, for holding foraminouscontainers, not shown, functioning as live boxes.

As seen in FIG. 6, the flanges 19 are spaced apart a distance greaterthan the diameter of the tires 26 so that the wheels 25 may be readilyremoved from the spindles 24 for servicing and maintenance when thewheel assemblies 22 are removed from the sleeves 15.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resortedto, without departing from the function of scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A boat comprising a hull, sleeves mounted in said hull intransversely spaced-apart relation to one another having lower endopening downwardly through the hull and open upper ends, a wheelassembly connected to each sleeve including a frame, having an openbottom, reciprocably mounted for vertical sliding movement in thesleeve, a ground-engaging wheel journaled in the frame and protrudingfrom the open bottom thereof, a support member, means securing thesupport member in the upper end of said sleeve, and a coiled compressionspring having a lower end bearing on the frame and upper end bearingagainst the support member for yieldably retaining the open lower end ofthe frame adjacent the lower end of said sleeve and with a portion ofthe wheel disposed below the level of the hull and in a ground-engagingposition.

2. A boat as in claim 1, and a draft tongue connected to and extendingfrom a forward end of the hull and having coupling means adapted tocouple the tongue to a draft vehicle, said tongue cooperating with theextended wheels for supporting the boat hull in an elevated position forland travel.

3. A boat as in claim 2, said draft tongue being extensible relative tothe hull to facilitate launching the boat and removal of the boat fromthe water.

4. A boat as in claim 1, means securing said coil spring to the supportmember and frame, said securing means being removable from the supportmember and being engageable with the frame for securing the frame in theupper end of the sleeve and with the wheel disposed above the waterlevel when the boat is afloat.

5. A boat as in claim 4, an arch-shaped frame extending upwardly fromsaid sleeve, means securing said frame to the sleeve, and a jack havinga stationary part secured to the archshaped frame and a verticallymovable part connected to the support member for elevating the supportmember, frame and wheel to an inoperative position, when the supportmember is disconnected from the sleeve, or for returning the supportmember, frame and wheel from an inoperative to an operative position.

6. A boat as in claim 5, said means securing the arch-shaped frame tothe sleeve being detachable for detachment of the wheel assemblyincluding the support member, frame and wheel, arch-shaped frame andjack from the sleeve.

7. A boat as in claim 6, said frame having an open side for removal ofthe wheel from the frame when the wheel assembly is detached from thesleeve.

1. A boat comprising a hull, sleeves mounted in said hull intransversely spaced-apart relation to one another having lower endopening downwardly through the hull and open upper ends, a wheelassembly connected to each sleeve including a frame, having an openbottom, reciprocably mounted for vertical sliding movement in thesleeve, a ground-engaging wheel journaled in the frame and protrudingfrom the open bottom thereof, a support member, means securing thesupport member in the upper end of said sleeve, and a coiled compressionspring having a lower end bearing on the frame and upper end bearingagainst the support member for yieldably retaining the open lower end ofthe frame adjacent the lower end of said sleeve and with a portion ofthe wheel disposed below the level of the hull and in a groundengagingposition.
 2. A boat as in claim 1, and a draft tongue connected to andextending from a forward end of the hull and having coupling meansadapted to couple the tongue to a draft vehicle, said tongue coopEratingwith the extended wheels for supporting the boat hull in an elevatedposition for land travel.
 3. A boat as in claim 2, said draft tonguebeing extensible relative to the hull to facilitate launching the boatand removal of the boat from the water.
 4. A boat as in claim 1, meanssecuring said coil spring to the support member and frame, said securingmeans being removable from the support member and being engageable withthe frame for securing the frame in the upper end of the sleeve and withthe wheel disposed above the water level when the boat is afloat.
 5. Aboat as in claim 4, an arch-shaped frame extending upwardly from saidsleeve, means securing said frame to the sleeve, and a jack having astationary part secured to the arch-shaped frame and a verticallymovable part connected to the support member for elevating the supportmember, frame and wheel to an inoperative position, when the supportmember is disconnected from the sleeve, or for returning the supportmember, frame and wheel from an inoperative to an operative position. 6.A boat as in claim 5, said means securing the arch-shaped frame to thesleeve being detachable for detachment of the wheel assembly includingthe support member, frame and wheel, arch-shaped frame and jack from thesleeve.
 7. A boat as in claim 6, said frame having an open side forremoval of the wheel from the frame when the wheel assembly is detachedfrom the sleeve.